It only takes one person to make a difference.
That’s the message organizers of the Canmore Hearts Bighorn campaign are sending out to the community in the final push of their effort to raise relief funds for those affected by June floods in the MD of Bighorn.
The communities of Exshaw, Lac Des Arcs and Benchlands were hit hard in the flood, with some homes missing, others left hanging precariously over embankments and still 22 families without a place to call home.
Lisa Rosvold with the campaign said if every working person in Canmore puts one hour’s wage towards the relief effort, as a community it can make a big difference.
“Even one person can make a difference,” she said. “If everyone contributes one hour collectively, we will have something substantial to present to the MD of Bighorn.”
Rosvold said she has heard feedback from small businesses that have low staff numbers that it may not be worth it to participate. But she said the opposite is true, as every single donation counts in the long run.
“If a company would like to participate, but missed the payroll deadline, they could collect cash from employees and the company could still write a cheque on behalf of the employees,” she added.
Rosvold said it is hard to estimate participation at this point, with donations expected to be in the drop-off box at the Civic Centre by the time the campaign raps up on Friday, Sept. 13 at 2 p.m.
During the flood, 120 of the 200 homes in Exshaw were affected and the devastation has been challenging for residents, according to Reeve Dene Cooper.
Cooper said efforts like Canmore Rotary’s Flood Relief Fund and the Canmore Hearts Bighorn campaign are filling in the gaps where government is having a hard time getting relief funds to the community.
“It was wonderful in the sense that no one program has to be the complete answer to a crisis on this scale, so I am really pleased Rotary and the Lion’s Club and people involved in Canmore Hearts Bighorn are all involved,” he said. “Together, all the parts will add up to something greater than any of the individual parts.”
So far the Town of Canmore, Spring Creek Mountain Village, Downer Contracting and the Rocky Mountain Outlook have officially confirmed participation in the campaign.
Those interested in more information should email [email protected] or go to the campaign’s Facebook page. A tax receipt can be provided for all donations over $20 as long as the company submits details and cheques should be made out to the Canmore Rotary Club Charitable Foundation with Canmore Hearts Bighorn in the memo line.
